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May 31, 2011
05/11
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>> combat fears of operation in iraq and afghanistan. we don't talk about the successes we don't talk about the things we've done and we don't talk you have a thriving and vibrant economy in the kurdish area with international flights and things of that nature coming in. so i think those are the type of things we have to discuss. we don't talk enough about some of the vicious attacks that the taliban does. you know, when i was over in afghanistan, you know, countless times i mean, these guys gunning down little girls going to school. throwing acid on them. we have to show them for who they are. and not allowing them to, you know, dominate the dialog and have the initiative across the websites and the information arena. so those are the type of things i think that we need to do a better job of doing is really telling the stories and showing some of the good news stories that are happening over there in these theaters of operation. >> thank you so much. >> thank you for having me. >> if you have follow-up questions feel free to contact him
>> combat fears of operation in iraq and afghanistan. we don't talk about the successes we don't talk about the things we've done and we don't talk you have a thriving and vibrant economy in the kurdish area with international flights and things of that nature coming in. so i think those are the type of things we have to discuss. we don't talk enough about some of the vicious attacks that the taliban does. you know, when i was over in afghanistan, you know, countless times i mean, these...
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Jun 14, 2011
06/11
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so we don't need to recreate afghanistan. all we need is some assurance that the old, very informal structure can sustain itself. >> you said you'd like to talk about china. here's a question, you referenced china's concern about the arab uprising. what is the risk facing beijing and by extension the u.s. relationship with it? >> well, i think -- i would venture to say the most successful american foreign policy in the last 50 years or so has been our china policy because starting with richard nixon from a position of total hostility between the two powers, we've gone through, i think, eight presidents now, of both parties, some of them starting out with some pretty harsh views about china, and they've all come to the conclusion that broadening and deepening our relationship with china is in the national interest of the united states. and we have made enormous progress. now, there have been some rough spots recently. and i think for understandable reasons. the chinese have always -- especially in economic matters, internation
so we don't need to recreate afghanistan. all we need is some assurance that the old, very informal structure can sustain itself. >> you said you'd like to talk about china. here's a question, you referenced china's concern about the arab uprising. what is the risk facing beijing and by extension the u.s. relationship with it? >> well, i think -- i would venture to say the most successful american foreign policy in the last 50 years or so has been our china policy because starting...
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Oct 21, 2011
10/11
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we're continuing our effort in afghanistan but as he suggested the number of u.s. troops deployed overseas has now been robustly reduced. so as it relates to the specific deployment schedule, i will leave that to the pentagon to brief you through the specifics on that. but the fact of the matter, given that we're looking now at eight dramatically fewer u.s. troops deployed overseas, as a result of these policy choices, i think you can extrapolate from that that we will see a less robust rotational effort it but again i believe the pentagon to comment on the specifics. >> thank you, jay. i would like to ask both gentlemen, the withdrawal of troops, even by those who support it, nonetheless is questions about for giving the exact numbers of when the troops will leave and finally begun. it's almost like telegraphing the message to possible enemies of the regime. what do you say to that criticism? >> well, i will try first. security agreement was negotiated and signed in 2008 by the bush administration stipulated on december 31, 2008, at the end of the mythic presence.
we're continuing our effort in afghanistan but as he suggested the number of u.s. troops deployed overseas has now been robustly reduced. so as it relates to the specific deployment schedule, i will leave that to the pentagon to brief you through the specifics on that. but the fact of the matter, given that we're looking now at eight dramatically fewer u.s. troops deployed overseas, as a result of these policy choices, i think you can extrapolate from that that we will see a less robust...
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Aug 12, 2011
08/11
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this year british forces intercepted a shipment of 4 dozen 422 millimeter rockets moving from iran to afghanistan. irgc officers are actively working with their syrian counterparts to crush unrest in syria and preserve the assad regime. and iran continues through iran air to deliver weapons and missiles capable of hitting israel to hezbollah in lebanon via the syrian transit route so we have -- the irgc operating on all cylinders. this economic component is of their declaration of war against the united states. and it's just the latest sign we have that the iranians are pursuing a comprehensive strategy to weaken the united states in the middle east and our economy and they for a long time with u.s. sanctions that have been significantly amplified since 2010 have said that they do have capabilities of striking back against the united states and the west and imposing economic pain on us. and i think our judgment is that's what we're seeing come to pass as part of the very strategy in which iran sees itself as engaged in very much of a -- almost a struggle with the united states. >> let me ask this
this year british forces intercepted a shipment of 4 dozen 422 millimeter rockets moving from iran to afghanistan. irgc officers are actively working with their syrian counterparts to crush unrest in syria and preserve the assad regime. and iran continues through iran air to deliver weapons and missiles capable of hitting israel to hezbollah in lebanon via the syrian transit route so we have -- the irgc operating on all cylinders. this economic component is of their declaration of war against...
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Sep 28, 2011
09/11
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i had the honor of serving with multiple battalions and most recently returned from afghanistan. it was in between my tours that i was serving as a veterans advocate for the iraq and afghanistan veterans of america. what better job for someone serving in the military? we are seeing the resources that are available. you're seeing the benefits that are provided. you're understanding what the issues are at hand and making sure to focus on yourself. but i was not. it was something that i did not handle correctly looking back on it. and i'm trying to pinpoint the reason why. if i knew all these resources were available, why did it take me until last month to finally step foot into the va and say, wow, it's time to start taking care of todd? it took a very long time for me to really soak these things in and to understand while i'm so busy doing what the military did a great job of teaching me which is taking care of others, i wasn't taking care of myself. it's something that was noble in the military but also something that is a detriment to the individuals themselves. so even though n
i had the honor of serving with multiple battalions and most recently returned from afghanistan. it was in between my tours that i was serving as a veterans advocate for the iraq and afghanistan veterans of america. what better job for someone serving in the military? we are seeing the resources that are available. you're seeing the benefits that are provided. you're understanding what the issues are at hand and making sure to focus on yourself. but i was not. it was something that i did not...
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May 9, 2011
05/11
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[inaudible] >> many are risking their lives in afghanistan and iraq believe in this core values? >> i'll answer that. >> please. [inaudible] >> i was in combat in vietnam. i didn't know what the sexual orientation of any of my fellow soldiers was. and it worked very well. don't ask, don't tell works. you didn't ask me when you asked the question what my sexual orientation is. and i'll tell you right now don't ask, don't tell and we'll all get along just fine. [inaudible] >> it's private. >> some of the tea party agree with you that speaker boehner in your words is sufficiently leading on the debt ceiling charge and some are saying it should be challenged in the next election. are you going that far? do you believe that he should be challenged in the next election? >> i believe what we're about here today and i think even in william's opening comments he made is we're trying to encourage speaker boehner and congressman ryan to demonstrate leadership as well as the other peers that were elected on november 2, 2010. and we're hoping they'll step up and provide that leadership, not i
[inaudible] >> many are risking their lives in afghanistan and iraq believe in this core values? >> i'll answer that. >> please. [inaudible] >> i was in combat in vietnam. i didn't know what the sexual orientation of any of my fellow soldiers was. and it worked very well. don't ask, don't tell works. you didn't ask me when you asked the question what my sexual orientation is. and i'll tell you right now don't ask, don't tell and we'll all get along just fine. [inaudible]...
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Jan 18, 2011
01/11
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did he ever go to afghanistan? >> not under the contract involving sigar to my knowledge. >> said the pay for him to chew claim his market value, $45,000 a month did not evolve in a high risk other than colin louis freeh's office? >> potentially, correct as far as i know, senator. >> let me also say, senator pat mr. schmidt is a registered government contractor, registered to contract with the government of the united dates as far as i understand. >> i understand, general. but the point i'm trying to make is your job is to oversee contract. your job is to set the gold standard on contracting, so you do a sole source contract, no bid. you immediately hire someone, clearly there wasn't even a vet done goes back to your attention there were questions you need to ask him about his previous service as inspector general. that's the point i'm making, general fields. that's the point i'm making. have you ever done or worked with an audit agency before you were given this job? have you ever done any audit work or been aroun
did he ever go to afghanistan? >> not under the contract involving sigar to my knowledge. >> said the pay for him to chew claim his market value, $45,000 a month did not evolve in a high risk other than colin louis freeh's office? >> potentially, correct as far as i know, senator. >> let me also say, senator pat mr. schmidt is a registered government contractor, registered to contract with the government of the united dates as far as i understand. >> i understand,...
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Feb 18, 2011
02/11
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it was quite significant to me on afghanistan. the first i thought there was a real change in opinion from our european colleagues that we really army can progress in afghanistan, and they feel good about it. and normally we have been concerned that -- i have been that they would lead the fight before we get. they turned the tables on us this time. and they said, we are committed now through nato to the 2014 exit date from afghanistan. we are worried that you in america are going to begin to leave earlier and they still have in mind notwithstanding all the transition to 2014 this july of 2011 date, so i would ask you if you would care to respond to that and of course part of that is just to urge that whatever we do in 2011, july of 2011 be mindful of the effect it will have not only on the afghans in the region but on our european allies. >> i would just make two comments. first, i had a nato defense ministers meeting last december, and it was really quite extraordinary, because i don't think i have ever seen so many ministers so
it was quite significant to me on afghanistan. the first i thought there was a real change in opinion from our european colleagues that we really army can progress in afghanistan, and they feel good about it. and normally we have been concerned that -- i have been that they would lead the fight before we get. they turned the tables on us this time. and they said, we are committed now through nato to the 2014 exit date from afghanistan. we are worried that you in america are going to begin to...
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Apr 19, 2011
04/11
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-afghanistan relationship document. the nato handover i think is going to be conducted in a different forum but i do think the reason they handover has been so smooth is that the political situation on the ground changed fairly dramatically by the end of 2008 in iraq and allowed for the smooth transition and drawdown we've seen since then. it is going to be important that not just that the capabilities of the afghan governance and security forces improve between now and 2014 but also that the taliban becomes less capable over that same time period. we're doing some pretty good work in making that happen. >> if i would add, it is not just the security agreement but in iraq also there was a separate strategic framework agreement which sent the signal of enduring support and cooperation on a range of issues including police and security work and the state department and also economic development in a range of things. the state department, now the ball is starting to be in their court especially if this transition is execut
-afghanistan relationship document. the nato handover i think is going to be conducted in a different forum but i do think the reason they handover has been so smooth is that the political situation on the ground changed fairly dramatically by the end of 2008 in iraq and allowed for the smooth transition and drawdown we've seen since then. it is going to be important that not just that the capabilities of the afghan governance and security forces improve between now and 2014 but also that the...
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Apr 11, 2011
04/11
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>> in afghanistan, yes, sir. and another set of numbers worth noting and i mentioned them to one of your colleagues of killed in action there been sadly over 1400 u.s. so 221 would expect about 700 of the allies and 900 allies have fallen so they are in this fight with us and taking losses and i believe making a significant contribution. >> my staff handed me an article that quote general caldwell of the training commission who said that nato still faces a shortage of 740 trainers needed to train afghan soldiers and policemen so assuming that nato is able to handle its commitment in afghanistan, could you explain if in fact nato does decide to deploy stabilization forces, that means boats on the ground, and in libya that would include u.s. troops under nato command, wouldn't it? >> if nato decided to deploy troops, whether or not the united states decided to participate with troops would be a national decision for the united states let me turn it around in terms of the no-fly zone that we are enforcing right now,
>> in afghanistan, yes, sir. and another set of numbers worth noting and i mentioned them to one of your colleagues of killed in action there been sadly over 1400 u.s. so 221 would expect about 700 of the allies and 900 allies have fallen so they are in this fight with us and taking losses and i believe making a significant contribution. >> my staff handed me an article that quote general caldwell of the training commission who said that nato still faces a shortage of 740 trainers...
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Sep 30, 2011
09/11
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finally, above all, how will the government of afghanistan and businesses in afghanistan leadership in afghanistan continue their engagement were they've after all been the pioneers of this and the years to come us in the changing environment in which the country assumption. so obvious and many many other -- much more plentiful questions i'll have to be addressed, we hope, to be one of the settings in which that might occur. thank you very much for [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> up next former russia specialist who served in the state department and the national security council under george w. bush, talk about that country's relationship with the u.s. also discuss the complex and, interests of both countries across the former soviet union. the ambassador of cast extend joined this event. it was held following the announcement of former russian president vladimir putin will return for a third term. this is just over 90 minutes. >> welcome to the center for the nation interest. we have a distinguished panel, an
finally, above all, how will the government of afghanistan and businesses in afghanistan leadership in afghanistan continue their engagement were they've after all been the pioneers of this and the years to come us in the changing environment in which the country assumption. so obvious and many many other -- much more plentiful questions i'll have to be addressed, we hope, to be one of the settings in which that might occur. thank you very much for [inaudible conversations] [inaudible...
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Jul 25, 2011
07/11
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and they swept across afghanistan controlling 90% of afghanistan. this fighting eruption -- taliban, al-qaeda -- saw four million refugees into pakistan. the introduction of a gun, kalashnikov, and drug culture. finally in 9/11, the terrible, disastrous terrorist attack on the world trade center and the u.s. military offense e in afghanistan -- offensive in afghanistan, all al-qaeda and taliban ran into the mountains and be cities of pakistan. therefore, ladies and gentlemen, religious mill tap si we saw -- militancy we saw in the east in the indian-held kashmir, religious militancy in afghanistan is followed entirely on -- has fallen entirely on pakistan in the center. this is how religious militancy was introduced. we are not the perpetrators. the situation in pakistan was perfectly normal until 1979, but things started getting disturbed after that for the reasons that i've told. pakistan, therefore, ladies and gentlemen, faces four menaces, i would say. number one is the menace of al-qaeda who are there in our mountains. but i think over time the
and they swept across afghanistan controlling 90% of afghanistan. this fighting eruption -- taliban, al-qaeda -- saw four million refugees into pakistan. the introduction of a gun, kalashnikov, and drug culture. finally in 9/11, the terrible, disastrous terrorist attack on the world trade center and the u.s. military offense e in afghanistan -- offensive in afghanistan, all al-qaeda and taliban ran into the mountains and be cities of pakistan. therefore, ladies and gentlemen, religious mill tap...
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Jun 24, 2011
06/11
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forces in afghanistan. the house armed services committee herd from joint chiefs of staff admiral mike mullen who supports president obama's plan to reduce troops in afghanistan. starting next months, 10,000 troops will be returning home by the end of the year, and a total of 33,000 troops by the end of september. >> the decision to withdraw 10,000 troops from afghanistan by the end of the year, and the remaining 23,000 serge forces by next summer. my position on the war effort has remained consistent. afghanistan's stability is vital to our national security. any removal of forces should be based on conditions on the ground and consistent with the advice of our senior military leaders. based on the president's speech last night, it's not clear to me that this decision was based on either. at west point in 2009, the president committed to a comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy in afghanistan by serging # 3,000 -- 33,000 troops. every witness in the committee testified this is beginning to bear fruit by
forces in afghanistan. the house armed services committee herd from joint chiefs of staff admiral mike mullen who supports president obama's plan to reduce troops in afghanistan. starting next months, 10,000 troops will be returning home by the end of the year, and a total of 33,000 troops by the end of september. >> the decision to withdraw 10,000 troops from afghanistan by the end of the year, and the remaining 23,000 serge forces by next summer. my position on the war effort has...
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Jun 21, 2011
06/11
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depend upon a strong and durable army and police in afghanistan. second, much work remains in pakistan. in senate hearings and meetings with u.s. and pakistani officials, i have questioned pakistan's full commitment to addressing the extremist threat within its borders. for example, pakistan has done little to stop the flow of bomb components across the border into afghanistan where they are used against our troops. terrorists in pakistan have the capability to strike internationally and have done so in recent years. these terrorists are also the central threat to the pakistani state itself. a concern that grows as pakistan inexplicably expands its nuclear arsenal. the pakistani people have suffered greatly in the struggle against these extremist groups as thousands of civilians and security forces have died. this is precisely why it is so unfortunate that the pakistani government is not fully committed to confronting this threat. i have been very patient with respect to this critical relationship, but i'm compelled to speak the truth when the stak
depend upon a strong and durable army and police in afghanistan. second, much work remains in pakistan. in senate hearings and meetings with u.s. and pakistani officials, i have questioned pakistan's full commitment to addressing the extremist threat within its borders. for example, pakistan has done little to stop the flow of bomb components across the border into afghanistan where they are used against our troops. terrorists in pakistan have the capability to strike internationally and have...
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Feb 14, 2011
02/11
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mission in afghanistan. our corporation is a global provider of power, water, communications, and other infrastructure. as part of the worldwide reach, the company proudly supported u.s. government projects for more than 90 years. since august 2006 as a partner in the group black and veatch venture, we assisted the client in develops essential energy infrastructure in order to improve the economy and quality of life for the people of afghanistan. from 2006 until today, total megawatts of power generation available for afghanistan have more than doubled, and us aid projects contributed to 90% of that increase. in december 2010, us-aid awarded them a separate contract for the helmond project for distribution in the south for the support of u.s. government policy. working in support of the mission to increase energy delivery to afghan's people and with afghan government organizations, black and veatch's dedicated professionals has successes. we provided advice to the government in negotiating power agreements w
mission in afghanistan. our corporation is a global provider of power, water, communications, and other infrastructure. as part of the worldwide reach, the company proudly supported u.s. government projects for more than 90 years. since august 2006 as a partner in the group black and veatch venture, we assisted the client in develops essential energy infrastructure in order to improve the economy and quality of life for the people of afghanistan. from 2006 until today, total megawatts of power...
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Jan 21, 2011
01/11
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it is paid the blood price in afghanistan. what is kind of shocking now has to paid in cash prize rebuilding afghanistan. >> i think we we are really saying that. at the beginning there was a may think there was a lot of politics around this decision if we weren't going to iraq and we would go to afghanistan and it was the good war and iraq was a bad war and it was all that sort of thing. >> what if we win the bet for? >> exactly. but we went in i think what increasingly happened is we started to appreciate that we had sent our men and women ill equipped and those stories started to filter home and it was not for lack of enthusiasm and it is still true today. you stand on these forward opera and bases in the middle of afghanistan and you ask how many people are on their third, or their fifth tour in almost all of the hands go up. we don't have a mandatory two or duty in afghanistan. people at the volunteer or that in the canadian military. so they are there and they are there not for the good weather. they are there because th
it is paid the blood price in afghanistan. what is kind of shocking now has to paid in cash prize rebuilding afghanistan. >> i think we we are really saying that. at the beginning there was a may think there was a lot of politics around this decision if we weren't going to iraq and we would go to afghanistan and it was the good war and iraq was a bad war and it was all that sort of thing. >> what if we win the bet for? >> exactly. but we went in i think what increasingly...
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Feb 1, 2011
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pakistan, afghanistan. the borders are 50, 60, 70 years old in cases and they're still unregulationed. i would begin with but china's part of this and i'd look at arms control. india and pakistan are acquiring the capacity to blow themselves up many, many times over. in my last lecture i spoke to both colleges and said you could be consent killing 50 million pakistanis or indians. that should be enough to keep them out of your back pocket. i said, it's not how much weapons you have. of the other side you kill. that was satisfy for the french in terms of soviets. you should be satisfied for ind india. and to look at us and our relationships, they've learn more is bet perp we're trying to undo misjudgments of deck dadad while we see this. hundreds of weapons, comes as no prize. areas where we have a legitimate important role to play in terms of normalizing the relationship between pakistan and its neighbors. especially in afghanistan. how do we do this? i'm not sure. i do think, ta take up a suggestion of bru
pakistan, afghanistan. the borders are 50, 60, 70 years old in cases and they're still unregulationed. i would begin with but china's part of this and i'd look at arms control. india and pakistan are acquiring the capacity to blow themselves up many, many times over. in my last lecture i spoke to both colleges and said you could be consent killing 50 million pakistanis or indians. that should be enough to keep them out of your back pocket. i said, it's not how much weapons you have. of the...
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Aug 31, 2011
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afghanistan first, iraq first. it makes a lot of sense unless you think we have limited oversight over these folks and when we have limited oversight, that means that money can get wasted. we have to do something about that. we also have to think about projects that we start but are not sure can be finished or sustained. our report talks about that as well. what is the point of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on projects that will then fall into disuse? and then we'll have a hobson's choice. either to let it fall into disuse and write it off as a waste or to keep spending our taxpayer money for god knows how long in order to keep the projects going. we need to avoid those sorts of things. $206 billion is a lot of money on contracting. but so is 60 billion in waste, of which a considerable amount, maybe as much as 18 billion, is pure fraud. we've got to do something about that. we need to do it for or troops, for our civilians, for our contractors and for the american people. >> i took a particular interest
afghanistan first, iraq first. it makes a lot of sense unless you think we have limited oversight over these folks and when we have limited oversight, that means that money can get wasted. we have to do something about that. we also have to think about projects that we start but are not sure can be finished or sustained. our report talks about that as well. what is the point of spending hundreds of millions of dollars on projects that will then fall into disuse? and then we'll have a hobson's...
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Oct 27, 2011
10/11
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strategy in afghanistan has been based on the belief that developing afghanistan's economy and institutions will win over the population to support the afghan government even after international forces draw down. some analysts are concerned that the afghan economy may somewhere a steep depression -- may enter a steep depression as military involvement in afghanistan winds down over the next three years. what's the u.s. take to insure that this depression does not happen, and i know you did mention a new silk road, the new central asia/south asia trading hub that we're trying to create in afghanistan. will there be job training programs and community development so that that can overtake the military action? >> thank you very much, congressman. and thanks, as always, for highlighting the important issues and security concerns coming out of africa. i thank you for that, and i join with congressman berman in saluting the life of former congressman howard wulpe who i also had the privilege of working with both in the '09s and as secretary of state. with respect to the sustainability of the afgh
strategy in afghanistan has been based on the belief that developing afghanistan's economy and institutions will win over the population to support the afghan government even after international forces draw down. some analysts are concerned that the afghan economy may somewhere a steep depression -- may enter a steep depression as military involvement in afghanistan winds down over the next three years. what's the u.s. take to insure that this depression does not happen, and i know you did...
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Feb 11, 2011
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we have an example in afghanistan. we are trying now to educate young your children and counter what is going on in a lot of the other areas where these individuals are being trained -- even further, being trained to be suicide bombers. from our point of view, we have to look at the worldwide threat from each country. we have to look at the training and analyze it to protect our country from terrorism. host:. cia director leon panetta once again on the threat of cyber attacks. >> the cyber a green that is this vastly growing area of the information that can be used and abused in a number of ways, but when it comes to national security, i think this represents the battleground for the future. i have often said that i think the potential for the next pearl harbor could very well be a sniper attack. host: what does he mean by that? what does a cyber attack to the equivalent of pearl harbor mean? guest: think of where we have come. this started with a guy in his mom's basement trying to hack into the local bank and braggin
we have an example in afghanistan. we are trying now to educate young your children and counter what is going on in a lot of the other areas where these individuals are being trained -- even further, being trained to be suicide bombers. from our point of view, we have to look at the worldwide threat from each country. we have to look at the training and analyze it to protect our country from terrorism. host:. cia director leon panetta once again on the threat of cyber attacks. >> the...
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Jan 7, 2011
01/11
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on afghanistan, i suppose people who really understand afghanistan will talk about that. they really understand it is more -- you have to place it in the context of the region. india is a factory, highly wrong but for too long we looked at it through the perspective of afghanistan itself. i think things are going very well. the law don't want to be accused of looking at this through rose spectacles but having been involved for some time i am better qualified with one or two exceptions than the u.s. armed forces to tell you that things are much better on the ground. people talk to you in a way whenever possible and say it wasn't the case unless it was a secure environment. i remember carl used to say you have to look at this for a two year or three year prison rather than one week. i promise you even five years is a big difference. i'll only wish the sort of resources were available to me in 2006 that he will be the first to acknowledge that thinking -- you can press it up a bit. what was required, to dave a call security bubble and we were going to link the -- they do not
on afghanistan, i suppose people who really understand afghanistan will talk about that. they really understand it is more -- you have to place it in the context of the region. india is a factory, highly wrong but for too long we looked at it through the perspective of afghanistan itself. i think things are going very well. the law don't want to be accused of looking at this through rose spectacles but having been involved for some time i am better qualified with one or two exceptions than the...
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Feb 22, 2011
02/11
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it has the potential of great good in afghanistan if afghanistan can move towards a greater degree of normalcy in which business development can take place free of the fear of instant assassination and death. >> time for one more question. right down here in the front. >> about 10 years ago or so, i was under the impression that turkey was viewed by many as just sort of a doddy of the u.s.. under prime minister, it is moved away from that position, and it has common borders with many of those countries involved like afghanistan, and i was wondering actually as a significantly bigger military than those, what role do you think can turkey take at this juneture with -- juncture with afghanistan? >> well, the fact that i spent two weeks in turkey with you and various others -- [laughter] is a real plus in my thinking about the future of islam because we saw in turkey a functioning country with a middle class, a country that unlike egypt reel lishes -- relishes its own past because it has the busses to see the monuments of the past which the egyptians do not have. i think europe has blown
it has the potential of great good in afghanistan if afghanistan can move towards a greater degree of normalcy in which business development can take place free of the fear of instant assassination and death. >> time for one more question. right down here in the front. >> about 10 years ago or so, i was under the impression that turkey was viewed by many as just sort of a doddy of the u.s.. under prime minister, it is moved away from that position, and it has common borders with...
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Apr 28, 2011
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gas to afghanistan? this is the objective of unical and the pipeline and transam pipeline. isn't this the real reason america went against th taliban and met george bush in the 80s on american soil? suspect it because -- isn't it because they couldn't complete the pipeline in the right time? >> guest: that's an interesting comment. i would say that certainly protecting lines of commerce and delivery of natural resources like oil and natural gas are really important in the united states and a part of our consideration. our relationship with th taliban though has i think a little bit of a different background, and i know this because i was involved in years and years ago. the taliban was created by the isi, the pakistani intelligence service helped create the taliban to be a political force in afghanistan so it was created by the intelligence service, and in the early days, the national security of the united states was deeply involved in afghanistan. we helped the afghanis throw the soviets out, and for t
gas to afghanistan? this is the objective of unical and the pipeline and transam pipeline. isn't this the real reason america went against th taliban and met george bush in the 80s on american soil? suspect it because -- isn't it because they couldn't complete the pipeline in the right time? >> guest: that's an interesting comment. i would say that certainly protecting lines of commerce and delivery of natural resources like oil and natural gas are really important in the united states...
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Mar 24, 2011
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happens in afghanistan. and they have a share community with whom they are feeling in touch. they have a big problem about drugs. and they don't like the taliban. because the talibans themselves did affect them a very badly when they were in charge in afghanistan and even killed, i think about nine to ten of the diplomats. so ignoring iran could be a big mistake. engaging it is the only way. but if not, iran and pakistan is if not even more important in terms of constructive engagement. so it's a lot of work on that. but i don't see this as a back -- show stopper at all. because they are all worried, all of them about the afghanistan that returns to kill, and none of them -- none of them wants afghanistan to go back into the hands of the taliban. the pakistanis are suffering enormously. in fact, they have been suffering more than afghanistan from their own taliban. so long answer to a very good and short question. i'm sorry. >> thank you. >> thank you. i'm a journalist with the afp news agency. i wanted to f
happens in afghanistan. and they have a share community with whom they are feeling in touch. they have a big problem about drugs. and they don't like the taliban. because the talibans themselves did affect them a very badly when they were in charge in afghanistan and even killed, i think about nine to ten of the diplomats. so ignoring iran could be a big mistake. engaging it is the only way. but if not, iran and pakistan is if not even more important in terms of constructive engagement. so it's...
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Mar 9, 2011
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., the operations, overseas contingency operations funds are specifically for iraq and afghanistan. both the bills cut the iraq security force funding by $500 million, they also shift funding for 9f-18 horpbts from the base to overseas contingency operations despite the fact that we have not lost an f-18, and that's $500 million. it shifts $500 million in funding for u.a.v.'s where they were properly requested. they should not be designated overseas contingency operations. 20 additional missile defense interceptor for $190 million and more, $37 million to fund support to the southwest border for the national guard. i strongly support funding for the southwest border to have it secured, and i will continue to advocate for that. but it does not apply to overseas contingency operations. so as we proceed, i intend to work to remove the non-defense-related spending from these bills, restore that funding to actual d.o.d. priorities, including full funding for our troops in combat and the costs needed to maintain and restore their equipment. mr. president, i don't know if the government's
., the operations, overseas contingency operations funds are specifically for iraq and afghanistan. both the bills cut the iraq security force funding by $500 million, they also shift funding for 9f-18 horpbts from the base to overseas contingency operations despite the fact that we have not lost an f-18, and that's $500 million. it shifts $500 million in funding for u.a.v.'s where they were properly requested. they should not be designated overseas contingency operations. 20 additional missile...
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Nov 30, 2011
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troops in afghanistan. as well as innocent civilians in afghanistan, india, and pakist pakistan. it must also be noted that the vast majority of the materials for improvised explosive devices that are maiming and killing u.s. troops in afghanistan originate within pakistan. these are facts. we cannot deny them. and any effective strategy for pakistan and afghanistan must proceed from this realistic basis. it is for this reason that i believe this amendment and this report would be extremely useful. already in response to recent pakistani activities, the administration has chosen to withhold coalition support fund reimbursements to pakistan. over the past two quarters, that withheld money amounts to roughly $600 million. and i can imagine that amid the current tensions, further administration requests to congress for reimbursement of coalition support funds for pakistan will not be forthcoming. the report requested in this amendment would seek additional information on the amounts, types and effectiveness of coalition support fund reimbursements to the government of pakistan. it a
troops in afghanistan. as well as innocent civilians in afghanistan, india, and pakist pakistan. it must also be noted that the vast majority of the materials for improvised explosive devices that are maiming and killing u.s. troops in afghanistan originate within pakistan. these are facts. we cannot deny them. and any effective strategy for pakistan and afghanistan must proceed from this realistic basis. it is for this reason that i believe this amendment and this report would be extremely...
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Sep 22, 2011
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service men and women in afghanistan. the following day secretary of state hillary clinton in a meeting with foreign minister carr also highlighted government support for this terrorist situation and its attack on men and women serving in uniform in afghanistan. on september 27 the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral mullen in a presentation in front of the carnegie endowment for peace also highlighted pakistan's official government support for the i.s.i. and the haqqani network. in testimony today in the senate armed services committee, admiral mullen reiterated these claims, stating that the i.s.i. of pakistan's government had provided explicit support for an attack on the u.s. embassy in kabul and our nato headquarters. the haqqani network supported by the government of pakistan is also responsible for attacks on afghan and indian construction efforts in the kabul gardese road at an attack that killed seven c.i.a. employees and the kidnapping of british and american journalists. within pakistan, the haqqani
service men and women in afghanistan. the following day secretary of state hillary clinton in a meeting with foreign minister carr also highlighted government support for this terrorist situation and its attack on men and women serving in uniform in afghanistan. on september 27 the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral mullen in a presentation in front of the carnegie endowment for peace also highlighted pakistan's official government support for the i.s.i. and the haqqani network. in...
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Jun 23, 2011
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afghanistan, for about 18 months we've had additional military capacity that was never known to afghanistan. to all, because of president obama's decision to send 33,000 troops at general petraeus's request. the request was for 40. but at the time i said i do appreciate president obama giving the commander the resources to do the job, but you have to do it differently. general kean is the architect of insurgency. he is a mentor of general petraeus. he and general petraeus and others came up with the strategy that succeeded in iraq. here's what's happened from my point of view. i go every three months. about two years ago i was afraid we were going to lose. how could the taliban come back with 100,000 nato forces in afghanistan? rules of engagement for nato were law enforcement rules. we were looking at this from the eyes of a law enforcement activity, and the number of american forces with a about 30,000. that wasn't enough to help build the afghan army, train and equip the afghan army, control the population, provide safety, give governance a chance to flourish through better security. tha
afghanistan, for about 18 months we've had additional military capacity that was never known to afghanistan. to all, because of president obama's decision to send 33,000 troops at general petraeus's request. the request was for 40. but at the time i said i do appreciate president obama giving the commander the resources to do the job, but you have to do it differently. general kean is the architect of insurgency. he is a mentor of general petraeus. he and general petraeus and others came up...
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May 3, 2011
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also not knowing if the flight to afghanistan could be intercepted. so all in all this is an extraordinary issue and we had to commend all of them. you're hearing today is particularly topical, just a little over an hour ago i met with the pakistani mission, the united states and expressed are the real concerns that i and many people have about pakistan's role in the war against terrorism. i remember back in 1998 when the african embassies were attacked and president clinton wanted to retaliate by firing rockets to the al qaeda compounds in afghanistan and we advise the pakistan government that rockets would be going through the airspace and the result was al qaeda was bin laden was not killed. he could've been killed on that day 13 years ago and things would've been much different. so we had this mixed relationship with pakistan all along. i remember two days after september 11, where he told us the first priority was to have the secretary of state tell president musharraf of pakistan that it was time to be with us or against us. at that time, pakist
also not knowing if the flight to afghanistan could be intercepted. so all in all this is an extraordinary issue and we had to commend all of them. you're hearing today is particularly topical, just a little over an hour ago i met with the pakistani mission, the united states and expressed are the real concerns that i and many people have about pakistan's role in the war against terrorism. i remember back in 1998 when the african embassies were attacked and president clinton wanted to retaliate...
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Feb 23, 2011
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in afghanistan. auntie dramatizes absolutely riveting detail what life in combat is like. and it makes it clear that what emerges from that is the devotion of the men in combat to saving their brothers, and that for some of them when they come back, civilian life doesn't offer the same kick and they reenlisted if you saw the film "the hurt locker," you saw that happening. so i think if you're open to reading books like that, it is a clear reminder of how horrible war is. but i take your point, and i know that people who actually were in work don't like to talk about it but they remember it as you remember it but i think that we are fortunate that the embedded reporters are doing extraordinary jobs or any home to the united states, people what war today is really like. [inaudible] >> how important secrecy was and making sure that negotiations went well. how do you think that the recent events including wikileaks and other major leagues -- leaks will have, how this will have an effect on our delay for
in afghanistan. auntie dramatizes absolutely riveting detail what life in combat is like. and it makes it clear that what emerges from that is the devotion of the men in combat to saving their brothers, and that for some of them when they come back, civilian life doesn't offer the same kick and they reenlisted if you saw the film "the hurt locker," you saw that happening. so i think if you're open to reading books like that, it is a clear reminder of how horrible war is. but i take...
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Jan 24, 2011
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>> in the case of afghanistan, i believe it's done both. in some cases their behavior and presence has undermined that, and in other ways it's allowed us to undertake critical work we wouldn't have been able to to do otherwise. >> okay. that's a fair statement. general dorko, your written testimony is interesting on a number of pages. on page 3 you talk about the challenge to security is the root cause of a lot of our problems, you've adopted methods to mitigate security risks, and here you say in accordance with general petraeus' guidelines, an assessment must be made to determine if project area is safe, and if it's not, you send combat engineers. to perform the construction function. can you just talk a little bit about the distinction there between where you can and cannot send people? >> yes, sir. this doing that assessment, i guess, if you're going to build a facility in an area and security, depending on what the facility is and what function it's going to perform, if it absolutely has to be there and security situation is such that
>> in the case of afghanistan, i believe it's done both. in some cases their behavior and presence has undermined that, and in other ways it's allowed us to undertake critical work we wouldn't have been able to to do otherwise. >> okay. that's a fair statement. general dorko, your written testimony is interesting on a number of pages. on page 3 you talk about the challenge to security is the root cause of a lot of our problems, you've adopted methods to mitigate security risks, and...
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Aug 18, 2011
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my question is, madam, what message are you sending to the people of afghanistan -- the people of afghanistan and also to the taliban when they hear that u.s. or nato forces are going to leave afghanistan? so what -- what will be their future as social security is concerned for the people of afghanista afghanistan? >> well, my focus as i mentioned is on the local government level particularly the province and the district. and what we can do to create security conditions so that governance and development can take route and the afghan people can take that in their own direction. so what we're looking at that level is the transition process and that it is a process. as i mentioned seven areas are -- more continue will go into us and it's a process of thinning out international forces and international support. not leaving. not handing off. and that's the message that i talk to the afghan people about, that i talk to my counterparts in the afghan government about and that's the message more importantly that the afghan government is conveying to its own people. it's a new process. like i said, t
my question is, madam, what message are you sending to the people of afghanistan -- the people of afghanistan and also to the taliban when they hear that u.s. or nato forces are going to leave afghanistan? so what -- what will be their future as social security is concerned for the people of afghanista afghanistan? >> well, my focus as i mentioned is on the local government level particularly the province and the district. and what we can do to create security conditions so that...
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Feb 4, 2011
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>> iraq, afghanistan. >> i think there are about 98,000 troops in afghanistan. and as you know, our current footprint in iraq is less than 50,000 are a little bit above 47,000 currently. >> so we will list 150,000 we have identified not that many enemies. >> right. and, of course, we are forces in other parts of the middle east as well. >> i'm just saying it makes it, for those of us who don't have the military experience, and testing such a technology military might, we have such a presence with such a few enemies identified. >> understand the question, senator. i would say when you look at the numbers, i think it could be misleading to just compare numbers of friendly forces, to numbers of enemy forces. you've got to take into account the type of operations, the type of warfare that you're conducting. and the types of things that we're doing in both iraq and afghanistan are very, very difficult operation. currently in iraq we're focused primarily on advising, training and assisting and equipping the iraqi security forces. we are partnering with them in conduct
>> iraq, afghanistan. >> i think there are about 98,000 troops in afghanistan. and as you know, our current footprint in iraq is less than 50,000 are a little bit above 47,000 currently. >> so we will list 150,000 we have identified not that many enemies. >> right. and, of course, we are forces in other parts of the middle east as well. >> i'm just saying it makes it, for those of us who don't have the military experience, and testing such a technology military...
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Jan 11, 2011
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most americans are tired of us fighting an endless war in afghanistan. we've been there for a decade, generals want us to be there for another five years. it's costing $2 billion a week. i don't care if you're a republican or democrat, all across america, people are saying let's rebuild our country, not other countries. the third is energy independence. these are thee issues. [applause] americans want their government to invest in energy like there's a sputnik moment because there is. it's happening in china, among our competitors, and we're going to be left behind. now, does that, joe, fit neatly in the republican platform or the democratic platform? no, it doesn't, and if you brought up some of those things to democrats, like we have got to balance the budget quick. you'd be nuts. if you mention getting out of afghanistan with the republicans, you would be kicked out of the caucus. it's setting priorities. >> i mean, basically you have to set priorities. we started in west virginia what we call vision shared. >> tell them about that. >> this is somethi
most americans are tired of us fighting an endless war in afghanistan. we've been there for a decade, generals want us to be there for another five years. it's costing $2 billion a week. i don't care if you're a republican or democrat, all across america, people are saying let's rebuild our country, not other countries. the third is energy independence. these are thee issues. [applause] americans want their government to invest in energy like there's a sputnik moment because there is. it's...
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Aug 12, 2011
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we are not going to do iraq again or afghanistan again. i don't think we need to do them again to the country safe from the terrorist threat. i think we are going to use a different model than places like timoney and somalia and it's going to be about training and equipping and supporting local forces, sharing intelligence with them, maybe using our manned aircraft or predator aircraft, may be vocationally special forces. that is the model how we will wage the war on tear over the next ten years. can you see what does that mean for our military? what does it mean for the ground forces and we have to ask exactly the questions peter asked about the big tank formations. i would argue that if we are going to have that model we also need a civilian capacity to help the state's better perform for the people as the deal with these terrorist threats. second, strategic forces. you know, arms control i think has been one of the great forces for preventing countries to do smart things with their military because they wait to have a negotiation where
we are not going to do iraq again or afghanistan again. i don't think we need to do them again to the country safe from the terrorist threat. i think we are going to use a different model than places like timoney and somalia and it's going to be about training and equipping and supporting local forces, sharing intelligence with them, maybe using our manned aircraft or predator aircraft, may be vocationally special forces. that is the model how we will wage the war on tear over the next ten...
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Feb 18, 2011
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afghanistan into day. .. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> the president is traveling to oregon today to take a tour and make remarks. a semiconductor manufacturing facility. he will speak about jobs and the economy today at 2:35 p.m. eastern and we will bring you his remarks live here on c-span2. >> it is a three day presidents day weekend on book tv on c-span2. on afterwards, hurd 1966 interview with dr. martin luther king jr. launched the career of carole simpson. her story of climbing the ranks of what was a profession dominated by white males. also this weekend we examined the way governments are using the internet to maintain political power. stephanie koontz looks at the feminine mystique and the birth of the women's movement to beat find a complete three day holiday schedule at book tv. sign up for book tv alert. >> this monday visit the public and private spaces of america's most recognizable homes, the
afghanistan into day. .. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> the president is traveling to oregon today to take a tour and make remarks. a semiconductor manufacturing facility. he will speak about jobs and the economy today at 2:35 p.m. eastern and we will bring you his remarks live here on c-span2. >> it is a three day presidents day weekend on book tv on c-span2. on afterwards, hurd...
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Mar 25, 2011
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-- nato in afghanistan. and third is to encourage iran to be less confrontational toward the united states and our allies in the region. the balance that we've dealt with in this excellent presentation that you'll hear from barbara is how, on the one hand, to keep maximum pressure and, if anything in my opinion, the need for enhanced pressure as iran finds ways in which to avoid a fourth round of u.n. sanks and the unilateral sanctions that have followed it, how to keep pressure on the iranian nuclear program so it does not develop further into a weaponnized program, on the one hand. and on the other, to try to find areas regionally -- particularly with respect to afghanistan -- in which there may be a coincidence of interests and which we can cooperate. and one of the tensions, again, that we've struggled with is that as we try to find those areas whether or not iran is interested in engaging or not, there is always the risk that you send a signal with respect to the nuclear program that somehow you're lett
-- nato in afghanistan. and third is to encourage iran to be less confrontational toward the united states and our allies in the region. the balance that we've dealt with in this excellent presentation that you'll hear from barbara is how, on the one hand, to keep maximum pressure and, if anything in my opinion, the need for enhanced pressure as iran finds ways in which to avoid a fourth round of u.n. sanks and the unilateral sanctions that have followed it, how to keep pressure on the iranian...
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Oct 21, 2011
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if they want this in afghanistan or out of afghanistan. they are ambivalent on this subject. whether they want us in or out, we will reduce our presence and transfer that, security responsibility to the afghan army but we are not leaving afghanistan any more than we are going to abandon our efforts to have peaceful relationship with pakistan. >> in the middle right here. >> thank you. retired state department. are we going to really be able to compel pakistan to change its behavior? i think it can be argued however wrong headed the pakistani behavior is, many pakistani believe backing the haqqani is giving them a strategic presence in afghanistan, instrument for long-term ability to play a role. however wrong headed it this is it is a strongly held belief among certain pakistani is. and set against that, the threat of losing the united states as an ally will only strengthen the belief that it is important to do that. that is a very powerful thing, however wrong -- we can send drowns against the haqqani. are we going to send troops in? how will we make them change the to and?
if they want this in afghanistan or out of afghanistan. they are ambivalent on this subject. whether they want us in or out, we will reduce our presence and transfer that, security responsibility to the afghan army but we are not leaving afghanistan any more than we are going to abandon our efforts to have peaceful relationship with pakistan. >> in the middle right here. >> thank you. retired state department. are we going to really be able to compel pakistan to change its behavior?...
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Sep 21, 2011
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we should not be in afghanistan. time to move out of afghanistan. >> i don't agree totally with what byron is saying but what i say sounds like it. i do think we are trying to police too much of the world. we are afghanistan and we're still in germany and south korea. we are all over the world. i do think it is time we do some re-evaluation of what our international roles and responsibilities are. we need to pull back on our advanced capabilities. we should advance overseas where we need to. in the case of emergencies dealing with terrorists where they pop up but the american people think it is time to withdraw in a lot of places. not that we will become protectionist and withdraw from the world but just a re-evaluation. a modernization of what our role is. i remember getting into arguments with our european allies about going into sarajevo. you know the situation. why do we have to take care of this? i remember talking to the president of germany which was an honorific sort of position. he said that is your role. th
we should not be in afghanistan. time to move out of afghanistan. >> i don't agree totally with what byron is saying but what i say sounds like it. i do think we are trying to police too much of the world. we are afghanistan and we're still in germany and south korea. we are all over the world. i do think it is time we do some re-evaluation of what our international roles and responsibilities are. we need to pull back on our advanced capabilities. we should advance overseas where we need...
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Jun 20, 2011
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pointing out some key republicans questioning the role in libya and afghanistan. the move that others call isolationist. and how much the operation is costing us. a piece inside "usa today" by senate congressman. front page of the atlanta constitution is back in the work force. it doesn't end the anxiety. new problems confronting unemployeed. >> host: let's begin with the focus this morning on this story inside "usa today". in this one sentence really caught our eye. next year's presidential election is shaping up as a classic contest between competing knee res about how to deal with the nation's two towering economic problems. lowering the 1.9% unemployment rate and the record deficit. those issues are likely to dominate the 2012 campaign. it also dominated the sunday morning discussions beginning with senator mitch mcconnell who made his appearance on cbs's "face the nation" yesterday. >> i think what they are looking to see what we will do is do something about the debt. whether we're going to do something about our annual deficit and the debt. that's the real
pointing out some key republicans questioning the role in libya and afghanistan. the move that others call isolationist. and how much the operation is costing us. a piece inside "usa today" by senate congressman. front page of the atlanta constitution is back in the work force. it doesn't end the anxiety. new problems confronting unemployeed. >> host: let's begin with the focus this morning on this story inside "usa today". in this one sentence really caught our eye....
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Aug 15, 2011
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by the 21st of april, i was in afghanistan. and we spent two weeks exploring the lay of the land because we were the plank holder group, the first group of civilians to go over there. and so it was a little confusing to people, um, the difference between contractors and civilians and exactly what our role would be to fit in as functional experts, and also we wanted to be able to come back and optimize the training. as soon as we got back, training started. it's about seven weeks, and that training is laid out pretty well in the guidebook. it was very good training. ambassador dobbins, i think, is the most important person that i became aware of during this training, and he had posited that we keep fighting these reconstruction wars as if it's the last time we're ever going to have to do that, and that really sank in if with me. so i got all four of his books, or three. the main one being "beginner's guide to nation building." and i realized that this moda program, i really started out because of what the admiral said, if not me
by the 21st of april, i was in afghanistan. and we spent two weeks exploring the lay of the land because we were the plank holder group, the first group of civilians to go over there. and so it was a little confusing to people, um, the difference between contractors and civilians and exactly what our role would be to fit in as functional experts, and also we wanted to be able to come back and optimize the training. as soon as we got back, training started. it's about seven weeks, and that...
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May 6, 2011
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counterterrorism is working in afghanistan. our european allies have made and continue to make significant contributions to the international security and assistance force. our eurasian and our asian partners also assist. i was pleased to reed this week that kazakhstan ratified an agreement that formalizes the arrangements under which thousands of flights have crossed kazakhstan air space since 2001. such contributions are essential and must continue. our mission in afghanistan is not yet complete. counterterrorism cooperation with our european and air asi e allies must be global in scope. i'm interested in listening to the allies working together to address the threat being made. excuse me. i think the president is calling me. i'm sorry. i'm in a committee hearing. i'm going to turn my phone off, and i'll call you later. okay? i bet that's never happened to you before, has it? i apologize for not shutting that off earlier. now, when you're in with the president and you do that, he glares at you. the united states can learn fro
counterterrorism is working in afghanistan. our european allies have made and continue to make significant contributions to the international security and assistance force. our eurasian and our asian partners also assist. i was pleased to reed this week that kazakhstan ratified an agreement that formalizes the arrangements under which thousands of flights have crossed kazakhstan air space since 2001. such contributions are essential and must continue. our mission in afghanistan is not yet...
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Jun 7, 2011
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as we work across afghanistan. and one of the things we have really focused on in the last year is an effort to do exactly what you're describing which is to create a set of metrics where you can judge both short-term stabilization not just inputs, not just how many seeds did we sell or give away to be planted, but based on a set of outcomes. you know, the number of trained and effective civil servants who are actually standing up local government, the number of people who, of hectors that are used for lis sit crops as opposed to illicit crops while at the same time, and this is a harder thing because it's over a longer time horizon, having metrics to see whether that can be connected to a long-term development strategy. it's not an easy thing, and i'm not an expert on it. if secretary clinton were here who takes a very great interest in this, they would be able to speak about it more intelligently than i am. but at a broad level that is what we're trying to do. and we hold ourselves to high standards which creates
as we work across afghanistan. and one of the things we have really focused on in the last year is an effort to do exactly what you're describing which is to create a set of metrics where you can judge both short-term stabilization not just inputs, not just how many seeds did we sell or give away to be planted, but based on a set of outcomes. you know, the number of trained and effective civil servants who are actually standing up local government, the number of people who, of hectors that are...
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Jan 14, 2011
01/11
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he understood that the future of afghanistan and pakistan are tied together and afghanistan he cultivated areas like agriculture and governance to feed stability. with pakistan, he created new habits of cooperation to over come decades of mistrust. and globally, he helped align the approaches of 49 nations. were he here with us, i know richard would credit the extraordinary team that he assembled. today i'd like to make a personal appeal to the s-wrap team. particularly the young people, stay in public service. serve your country. seek the peace that your mentor so hardly sought. i also know that richard would want us to lift up the next generation of public service, particularly our diplomats who so rarely receive credit. i'm proud to announce the creation of an annual richard c. holbrook award to honor excellence in american diplomacy as we look to the next generation, it is fitting as david mentioned that this memorial will take place at the kennedy center. named for the president who called richard's generation to serve. it's also fitting that this memorial takes place at a time when
he understood that the future of afghanistan and pakistan are tied together and afghanistan he cultivated areas like agriculture and governance to feed stability. with pakistan, he created new habits of cooperation to over come decades of mistrust. and globally, he helped align the approaches of 49 nations. were he here with us, i know richard would credit the extraordinary team that he assembled. today i'd like to make a personal appeal to the s-wrap team. particularly the young people, stay...
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Mar 11, 2011
03/11
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we see in afghanistan that the civilian aid is absolutely essential to resolving this conflict. we are putting many, many billions more dollars in the defense program then in the civilian side. i think that has to be changed, hopefully in my lifetime. host: good morning. caller: i am from westchester county. hello. i would love to have a town meeting with ms. lowey so we can look eye to eye so we do not have to be on the telephone for 40 hours to ask a question. howl are our national interests involved in helping women have babies in other countries? how does that help our national interest? the other two ladies -- we are involved in other countries, giving money to their military. a couple of years down the road, they are knifing us in the back. we have to stop giving all this aid to governments and let them figure out what they want to do. for heaven's sakes, it is not in our national interest to give money to people to stop having babies in the third world countries. we have to help our own citizens. that is all i would like to say. maybe one of these days, which will have a
we see in afghanistan that the civilian aid is absolutely essential to resolving this conflict. we are putting many, many billions more dollars in the defense program then in the civilian side. i think that has to be changed, hopefully in my lifetime. host: good morning. caller: i am from westchester county. hello. i would love to have a town meeting with ms. lowey so we can look eye to eye so we do not have to be on the telephone for 40 hours to ask a question. howl are our national interests...
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Apr 28, 2011
04/11
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with respect to afghanistan and iraq as being to their benefit. they're already crafting the narrative that this is a great success, that this is along the lines of the withdrawal of the soviet troops from afghanistan, these are grand victories for the global movement. now, the reality of that, you know, can be debated, but that's certainly the narrative that they're weaving in the context of what's happening. they're touting and very much banking on the rise of the affiliates, the ability of groups like aqap to not only try to target the west, but also to discome obama bob late the united states even with failed attacks. and so there is glee and pleasure in that, in their statements and in how thaw operate. how they operate. they're quite pleased, quite frankly, with the fall of the autocrats like mubarak or who are under assault like gadhafi. they see that to be a windfall in the context of their strategy. this was one of their main strategies in terms of the near enemy. they have to worry about what follows, clearly, but this is one of their go
with respect to afghanistan and iraq as being to their benefit. they're already crafting the narrative that this is a great success, that this is along the lines of the withdrawal of the soviet troops from afghanistan, these are grand victories for the global movement. now, the reality of that, you know, can be debated, but that's certainly the narrative that they're weaving in the context of what's happening. they're touting and very much banking on the rise of the affiliates, the ability of...
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Feb 28, 2011
02/11
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how long has louie bergeer been working in afghanistan? >> i believe quite some time. >> i believe from the beginning. louie berger cut as deal with the government. as you said they did some pretty outrageous things, correct. >> yes, sir. >> let me add, i was just in afghanistan, afghani do you know who he is. >> yes. >> he is the former minister of finance who is also the top advisor to president karzai on the transition. he was once again outspoken about just one company, louie berger. and he has been publicly are and privately for years. at what point do you decide that louie berger is part of the problem in afghanistan and not part of the solution? well,. >> well, sir we have the administrative agreement in sfas, anyone looking at their past performance that is in there and we'll learn the terms of their previous wrongdoing. as far as it relates to their performance, i, am hesitant because i don't want my comments to appear in any way defending louie berger. clearly we have had problems with them in the past. i recognize that previousl
how long has louie bergeer been working in afghanistan? >> i believe quite some time. >> i believe from the beginning. louie berger cut as deal with the government. as you said they did some pretty outrageous things, correct. >> yes, sir. >> let me add, i was just in afghanistan, afghani do you know who he is. >> yes. >> he is the former minister of finance who is also the top advisor to president karzai on the transition. he was once again outspoken about...
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Jan 17, 2011
01/11
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president of afghanistan. i'd also like to acknowledge minister bill from sweden and i would like to acknowledge sheik abdullah from the uae and the chief of the diplomatic corps who's here as well as all of the ambassadors who are here. thank you very much for coming. dick was a friend of mine for some 35 years. i first met him in a political campaign. and it was clear to me then that he was an extraordinarily different person than almost everybody else i met in this campaign. nobody had their own office. nobody had their own telephone. nobody had their own secretary. until dick came. and when dick came, all of a sudden he managed to get a secretary, several secretaries, a staff, the staff to staff him and he managed to get an office and he managed to get an office with windows. after a while the campaign revolved around him. [laughter] but that's the way it should be because he actually did extraordinary things. and sometimes dick might have been thought by others to have a large ego, but in truth, as a famo
president of afghanistan. i'd also like to acknowledge minister bill from sweden and i would like to acknowledge sheik abdullah from the uae and the chief of the diplomatic corps who's here as well as all of the ambassadors who are here. thank you very much for coming. dick was a friend of mine for some 35 years. i first met him in a political campaign. and it was clear to me then that he was an extraordinarily different person than almost everybody else i met in this campaign. nobody had their...
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Jan 13, 2011
01/11
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the core of al qaeda and under more pressure than at any point since it led afghanistan nine years ago. senior leaders have been killed. it's harder for them to recruit, to travel, train, plot in to launch attacks. in short, al qaeda is hunkered down. as the president said it will take time to openly defeat al qaeda and remains the ruthless and resilient enemy bent on attacking our country. but we are going to remain relentless in disrupting and dismantling that terrorist organization, and i can envision the demise of al qaeda's senior leadership in contrary in the coming years. and around the world, where ever al qaeda and its terrorist effect try to take root, we are going to continue using every tool at our disposal to protect the american people and build the capacity of our partners to protect their people. i that includes staying true to the ideals and values that make us americans, and make our nation great. because as the president said, when as terrorists offer nothing but a vision of death and destruction, the united states is going to continue to offer people around the worl
the core of al qaeda and under more pressure than at any point since it led afghanistan nine years ago. senior leaders have been killed. it's harder for them to recruit, to travel, train, plot in to launch attacks. in short, al qaeda is hunkered down. as the president said it will take time to openly defeat al qaeda and remains the ruthless and resilient enemy bent on attacking our country. but we are going to remain relentless in disrupting and dismantling that terrorist organization, and i...